照耀

zhàoyào
verb HSK 6 #11,554

Meanings

  1. 1 to shine; to illuminate
  2. 2 to light up (figuratively)

Characters

Double 'shine' — intensified illumination, both literal and metaphorical.

Examples

Yángguāng zhàoyào zhe dàdì.
Sunlight shines upon the earth.
Yuèguāng zhàoyào zhe húmiàn.
Moonlight illuminates the lake surface.
Tā de jīngshén zhàoyào zhe hòurén.
His spirit illuminates future generations.

Tips

usage
照耀 is more literary and grand than alone. It is commonly used in poetic, literary, or political contexts — sunlight on the land, a hero's legacy shining on.
memory
耀 has the (light) radical on the left — pure radiance. Two 'light' characters together = powerful brilliance.

Stroke Order

zhào
耀 yào